Author John Meyer writes fictional travel memoirs—unique adventure stories that combine fun facts of history with present-day drama and humor. Always revolving around a fictitious love story and always based on his own thrilling journeys.

After he was robbed in Rome and then found his faith in humanity restored at the Palio festival in Siena, he was inspired to write "Bullets, Butterflies, and Italy." After he ran with the bulls in Pamplona and then came to the rescue of an injured fan at the Blur reunion concert in Hyde Park, he was encouraged to write "Bulls, Bands, and London."

And after walking across Spain with hundreds of pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago, he is proud to announce the fall release of his third exciting adventure, "SAuthor John Meyer writes fictional travel memoirs—unique adventure stories that combine fun facts of history with present-day drama and humor. Always revolving around a fictitious love story and always based on his own thrilling journeys.

After he was robbed in Rome and then found his faith in humanity restored at the Palio festival in Siena, he was inspired to write "Bullets, Butterflies, and Italy." After he ran with the bulls in Pamplona and then came to the rescue of an injured fan at the Blur reunion concert in Hyde Park, he was encouraged to write "Bulls, Bands, and London."

And after walking across Spain with hundreds of pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago, he is proud to announce the fall release of his third exciting adventure, "Shadows, Shells, and Spain!"

However, these books are more than travel memoirs. These are distinctive entries into the travel literary genre because they not only promise entertaining fictional drama, but they also provide accurate and amusing descriptions of the local people and places you will encounter in his adventures—which will hopefully enrich and inspire you all to embark on your own remarkable dream vacations!

• • • •

John Meyer is also the studio writer for Entertainment Tonight Canada—and has been ever since the popular daily show launched back in 2005. That’s almost three thousand episodes now...and counting!...more

Popular Answered Questions

John MeyerI have a list for everything but not a "summer reading list." However, standing by on my nightstand is Anthony Berkeley's "Trial and Error," Don…moreI have a list for everything but not a "summer reading list." However, standing by on my nightstand is Anthony Berkeley's "Trial and Error," Don DeLillo's "Underworld" (which remains daunting at 800+ pages), Rohinton Mistry's "A Fine Balance," and John Updike's "Couples." It might be fall before I get to all of these...(less)

John MeyerNick and Nora Charles from Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man." He's a detective; she's a socialite. They are both smart, funny, adore each other, tease…moreNick and Nora Charles from Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man." He's a detective; she's a socialite. They are both smart, funny, adore each other, tease each other, and are not afraid to knock back a few drinks together while they solve a crime. What's not to love?(less)

Despite the great reviews on Goodreads and the frequency of the word, "masterpiece," written on its back cover... I couldn't enjoy this book. Part of the problem was that it's the story of a journey of a young man written by a middle-aged man. FermorDespite the great reviews on Goodreads and the frequency of the word, "masterpiece," written on its back cover... I couldn't enjoy this book. Part of the problem was that it's the story of a journey of a young man written by a middle-aged man. Fermor's memories and dense descriptions almost suggest the trope of the unreliable narrator. No one's memories are that good!

And who is this teenager who speaks 3 languages, quotes from the literary classics, sings songs with strangers, and boasts a vast knowledge of Middle Age history, art, and classical music? I certainly can't relate to him and I'm much older.

The larger problem, and the big problem with most travel books, is that not much happens. He walks, he's broke, he meets people who offer to help him. Even when interesting episodes arise: he gets robbed, he draws sketches of rich people to make some money, he even parties with a couple of conniving women... they soon diffuse and he's back to walking. And why is he walking in the winter? Not one word about that. It reads like a miserable slog and I have no sympathy for him without some sort of explanation.

Then, of course, there is no ending. It's just one part of a trilogy. So there's that.......more

Preview — A Time of Gifts
by Patrick Leigh Fermor

"
Hi Hayley, After walking the Camino in 2014, I wrote, "Shadows, Shells, and Spain." It's a Camino book with a twist. It still has historical anecdotesHi Hayley, After walking the Camino in 2014, I wrote, "Shadows, Shells, and Spain." It's a Camino book with a twist. It still has historical anecdotes and descriptions of the most popular route, but it's also tied to a fictional story about a man who desperately searches for his missing wife. His only clues are the mysterious letters she's left for him to find along the trail... (You can easily find it here on Goodreads)....more
"

Preview — A Time of Gifts
by Patrick Leigh Fermor

The story and background surrounding the painting of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is a fascinating subject for any history book. And King definitely knows his history. However, some chapters were naturally much more interesting than others. One chThe story and background surrounding the painting of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is a fascinating subject for any history book. And King definitely knows his history. However, some chapters were naturally much more interesting than others. One chapter might be about the enemies of Duke of Milan (Leonardo's benefactor) marching towards Italy, while the next chapter might be about how the artist mixed paints. Still, it's an overall good read which soon sent me down internet rabbit hole to learn more the Renaissance period and its kings and dukes and popes. (And the ending is quite tragic when you realize how few people got to see the Last Supper in its full glory...)...more

Preview — Leonardo and the Last Supper
by Ross King

"
Kelli wrote: "Hi Everyone - My secret goal in life is to amass the world's largest travel lit personal library, and I've found a few new titles just rKelli wrote: "Hi Everyone - My secret goal in life is to amass the world's largest travel lit personal library, and I've found a few new titles just reading through these comments - thank you!

I've just finishe..."

Who am I to interfere with your secret goal? So I'll just leave this suggestion for you... right over here....

"Shadows, Shells, and Spain" the new fictional travel memoir by John Meyer

(Lost and listless on the island of Mallorca, Jamie Draper searches for his estranged wife, Pam, who has left him without any explanation or warning. Exploring her last known location, Jamie stumbles upon an urgent letter from his missing wife promising full disclosure as to her sudden departure and her current whereabouts. There’s just one catch: her mysterious adventure is disclosed in a series of letters she’s left hidden along the ancient Camino trail across northern Spain. Now armed with a list of clues to track the letters down, Jamie retraces Pam’s footsteps, while being both entertained and challenged by the many colorful Camino characters he meets along the way—including the enchanting Brie, who harbors her own secrets that just might compromise Jamie’s intended reunion with his wife.)...more
"

Wanted to like it a lot more. Passive narrator who merely observes other more interesting characters. While the rise of the Nazis colors the episodic stories, the author is quite far removed from their raging threat. The character of Sally Bowles isWanted to like it a lot more. Passive narrator who merely observes other more interesting characters. While the rise of the Nazis colors the episodic stories, the author is quite far removed from their raging threat. The character of Sally Bowles is perhaps the most celebrated, but I found her quite exhausting. I was much more invested in Natalia Landauer......more

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
―
Mark Twain,
The Innocents Abroad / Roughing It

Camino de Santiago
— 69 members
— last activity Apr 04, 2019 11:39AM
A group for those who have walked the Camino, who intend walking the Camino - or are interested in reading about the journey along the ancient pilgrimA group for those who have walked the Camino, who intend walking the Camino - or are interested in reading about the journey along the ancient pilgrim trail to Spain's city of Santiago de Compostela...more

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